Every NFL Team's Secret Weapon

Every single season in the NFL there are multiple rising stars who come from obscurity to take over the conversation around the league.

Last season, Russell Wilson became one of the most successful mid-round rookies in the recent history of the league. Some said he was too short to play quarterback, while others concluded that the skill set just wasn't there.

Wilson proved everyone wrong by leading Seattle to the postseason and challenging for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Down south a bit from Seattle, San Francisco's quarterback Colin Kaepernick took the league by storm. He led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in nearly two decades with just nine NFL starts under his belt.

The previous season saw Victor Cruz come out of nowhere to take the Big Apple by storm.

Kansas City Chiefs

If utilized correctly, McCluster could be the Chiefs version of Reggie Bush during his days with the New Orleans Saints.

The problem is that Kansas City's old regime didn't use the electric player to the best of his ability this past season. He touched the ball over 100 times less than in 2011, despite the fact that he was coming off a a performance that saw him average 5.3 yards per touch.

Look for new head coach Andy Reid to play McCluster all over the field. He will spell Jamaal Charles in the backfield, play the slot and even line up outside.

Give McCluster the necessary touches and he should compile a minimum of 1,000 yards from scrimmage. That's what I am banking on.

San Diego Chargers

Dave Reginek/Getty ImagesVincent Brown missed the entire '12 season, but can be a force in San Diego.

Vincent Brown, Wide Receiver

Brown quickly became a fixture in "Bad Luck Brian" memes when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Dallas in August.

He was coming off a strong rookie campaign that saw him bring down 19 receptions for 329 yards and four scores in limited action. In addition, Brown was going to be tasked with helping to fill the void of losing Vincent Jackson to Tampa Bay in free agency.

It just didn't work out.

Fast forward a year, and Brown is still on the radar of those who were extremely high on him coming out of San Diego back in 2011.

He will compete with Keenan Allen and a myriad of veterans for the starting gig opposite Malcom Floyd with the Chargers in 2013. While Floyd might have a built-in advantage to be the No.1, Brown has a solid chance to earn the No. 2 gig.

If that happens, he is a breakout star ready to happen. Expect something to the tune of 50 receptions for 700 yards and a half dozen scores.

Arizona Cardinals

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesStepfan Taylor had a productive career at Stanford. He'll look to continue that in the NFL.

Stepfan Taylor, Running Back

You simply don't produce the way Taylor did with Stanford over four years without being able to see your game translate to the NFL.

Taylor recorded over 5,000 total yards and 45 touchdowns with the Cardinal and was one of the primary reasons Andrew Luck had a lot of success during his collegiate career.

Arizona will now look to Taylor to provide the same type of spark for Carson Palmer in the desert. He was one of two running backs, Andre Ellington being the other, that the Cardinals spent a draft pick on in April.

While Arizona did go out there and sign Rashard Mendenhall to a salary cap-friendly deal, it might make the decision to go with the youngster here.

The addition of fellow rookie Jonathan Cooper to play left guard should also help Taylor make a smooth transition to the next level. Cooper was the best pull-blocking guard in the entire draft and should be able to set Taylor up with rushing lanes on the outside.

Don't be surprised if Taylor is able to pass the 1,000-yard plateau as a rookie in 2013.

San Francisco 49ers

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesOnce San Francisco took the training wheels off in '12, LaMichael James played well.

LaMichael James, Running Back

This talented youngster was a non-factor for a vast majority of his rookie campaign. James didn't attempt a rush until Week 14, as it took until San Francisco released Brandon Jacobs and Kendall Hunter suffered a season-ending injury before he would see action in a game.

What James did in the few games that he did suit up was pretty extraordinary.

He scored an important second-half touchdown against Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game. All said, James put up 230 total yards on just 43 touches.

Even with Frank Gore and Hunter ahead of him on the depth chart, San Francisco is expecting James to make a huge impact as a change-of-pace back in 2013. He'll be a key cog when it runs the read-option with Colin Kaepernick and should put up some decent receiving numbers.

Remember, James was one of the most electric running backs in the recent history of college football during his college career. He tallied nearly 6,000 total yards in just three seasons.

There is a reason why San Francisco exhausted a second-round pick on him last year. Expect an expanded role in 2013.

Seattle Seahawks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesKam Chancellor doesn't get a lot of press, but he is an unheralded player in Seattle.

Kam Chancellor, Strong Safety

Probably one of the most unheralded members of the best defense in the NFL, Chancellor has been nothing short of great over the past couple seasons.

Teaming up with Earl Thomas at safety, he's a great cover strong safety.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Chancellor ranked 13th among all safeties against the pass last season. That's telling considering that he doesn't play a position that is usually relied on to cover over the top.

One could even argue that Chancellor was better this past season than during his Pro Bowl 2011 campaign.

Continued progression in all aspects of his game could lead to a spot on the All-Pro team. That's what Seattle should count on this season.

St. Louis Rams

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesBrian Quick struggled making transition from small school to the NFL in '12

Brian Quick, Wide Receiver

St. Louis might have surprised a great deal of people by selecting wide receiver Brian Quick with the initial pick in the second round of the 2012 draft. The small-school product from Appalachian State flew under the radar, but was considered a high-level prospect within the scouting community.

His transition from running a limited route tree in college to a full NFL-level tree at the highest level proved worrisome for Quick as a rookie. He recorded just 11 receptions and saw his playing time dwindle toward the latter part of the year.

With a full offseason under his belt, we can fully expect Quick to resolve those issues prior to the start of training camp.

All other indicators for success are there. At 6'3" and 220 pounds, Quick has the size to be a top-tier outside target. His ability to get off the line against press should help quarterback Sam Bradford in 2013 as well.

In reality, Quick is a perfect complement to Jared Cook and Tavon Austin in the passing game. Look for a stud season from the talented youngster.

Houston Texans

Frederick Breedon/Getty ImagesJared Crick was coming off injury issues as a rookie in 2012.

Jared Crick, Defensive End

This Nebraska product didn't see a whole bunch of playing time as a rookie in 2012. He recorded a couple dozen tackles in limited action behind both J.J. Watt and Antonio Smith.

Make no mistake about it, that was by design.

Crick was coming off a season-ending pectoral injury in 2011. Houston made the decision to slowly insert him in the lineup. If it weren't for the said injury, Crick would have likely been an early second-day pick back in 2012.

He is best suited to play the 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme, which just so happens to be what the Texans are looking for from him. If Crick is able to maintain his leverage at the point of contact and open up lanes for oncoming pass-rushers, he'll be a find for Houston this upcoming season.

Depending how the remainder of the summer plays out, Crick could actually find himself starting at right defensive end opposite Watt.

Indianapolis Colts

Palmer was an instant training camp stud for San Francisco a couple years back. His combination of electric playmaking ability and speed leads me to believe he can be a huge under-the-radar performer for Andrew Luck and Indianapolis in 2013.

The Northern Illinois product caught just one pass in five games in spot duty after Indianapolis claimed him from San Francisco last season.

Even with the addition of Darrius Heyward-Bey in free agency, Palmer should be given an opportunity to prove his worth in training camp. Given that chance, there is no reason to believe that he won't shine.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Phil Sears-USA TODAY SportsDenard Robinson is electric with the ball in his hands.

Denard Robinson, Running Back

It wasn't too long ago that Robinson was considered a top Heisman Trophy candidate at Michigan. Of course making the transition from quarterback to running back might be a bit difficult, especially as a rookie.

That being said, the talent is there for Robinson to exceed all expectations in his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As a former quarterback, Robinson already possesses solid field vision. This will help him be able to make an impact early on. He'll be able to rely on pure physical ability and instincts while learning the nuances of the position.

In addition, Jacksonville is fully prepared to rely on Robinson in 2013.

It let Rashad Jennings walk in free agency and really has no proven backup running back to shoulder the load should Maurice Jones-Drew go down to injury.

Even with a healthy Jones-Drew, the Jaguars will need someone to come in and spell the veteran.

There is no reason to believe that Robinson can't tally 100 total touches and over 600 yards in 2013.

That's not exactly what you would call being productive when given an opportunity.

With that in mind, it's important to note that Walker dropped less passes in his first six seasons combined with San Francisco than he dropped last year. We need to see more than one year of issues as they relate to drops before calling it a pattern.

In terms of overall play, Walker is one of the most underrated overall tight ends in the NFL. He will give Jake Locker a solid weapon to throw to between the hashes and can even line up either outside or in the offensive backfield as well.

Looking at Pro Football Focus again, Walker was the second-best run-blocking tight end in the NFL last year.

Just imagine how his presence will help Chris Johnson and the Titans running game.

Atlanta Falcons

Todd Kirkland/Getty ImagesCould Brian Banks make an impact in 2013? Such a good story.

Brian Banks, Linebacker

This isn't only an amazing human interest story. As most of my readers already know, Banks was falsely accused and convicted of sexual assault as a teen and spent years in prison for a crime he did not commit (via ESPN).

It came at a time in his life when Banks was a highly-touted high school prospect from Southern California. In fact, he had already been recruited by Pete Carroll and USC at the time.

For what it is worth, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the NFL Network that Atlanta isn't treating Banks as a "charity case"(viaThe Atlanta Journal Constitution).

Combine all his character, drive and work ethic with all the training he has done lately – this isn’t a guy who is just slopping around. He is 6’2’’, 250 lbs, runs in the low 4.8s which] he can get better at. His functional movement screens were very good. We like how he is developing. This isn’t a charity case. This is a great feel-good story but also one we believe he can come in here and compete.

"Come in and compete" are the operative words there. According to Ourlads.com, Banks is stuck behind Akeem Dent and Pat Schiller on the depth chart at middle linebacker. That's not a big deal considering that those two players leave a lot to be desired.

If Banks can show that the rust has worn off and he has the athletic ability, which it's pretty obvious he does, the Falcons may have found a gem.

Check back in on this slide in August, as I wouldn't be surprised if Banks quickly surpasses one or two of those players mentioned above.

New Orleans Saints

USA TODAY SportsJunior Galette could be a force in the Saints new 3-4 scheme.

Junior Galette, Linebacker

The loss of Victor Butler to an apparent torn ACL this week is going to hurt the New Orleans Saints' transition to a 3-4 scheme.

Though, it will definitely give Galette a chance to earn his stripes from the outside linebacker position. Now entering his fourth NFL season, the Haiti native looks to build off a five-sack campaign from a year ago.

If Galette is featured more in 2013, which is a likely scenario at this point, we could be looking at a double-digit sack season.

After all, he did record those five sacks in just 301 snaps in 2012. While that ratio won't be sustained in 2013, it is an indicator that Galette can provide a high volume of sacks, via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesBrian Leonard could be the change-of-pace guy for Doug Martin in Tampa.

Brian Leonard, Running Back

Man, I remember watching Leonard play at Rutgers. He reminded me of a young Mike Alstott when he entered the NFL back in 2007. He never really got it going in St. Louis or Cincinnati, as neither team gave him a chance to cradle the rock or lead block.

He has just over 1,500 total yards and one touchdown in six seasons.

After trading LeGarrette Blount to the New England Patriots during April's draft, Tampa Bay now has room for Leonard on the roster.

He won't necessarily take carries away from Doug Martin, but he should be able to be an important all-around member of Tampa Bay's backfield this upcoming season.

This is only magnified by the fact that the Buccaneers don't really have a reliable or proven No. 2 running back behind Martin.

Baltimore Ravens

The writing was on the wall, as Leach's 2013 salary just wasn't sustainable for the Ravens. Couple that with the addition of Juszczyk in April's draft and you had to believe Leach was going to be a goner this month.

While much different in what he brings to the table, Juszczyk can be a force for Baltimore as a rookie in 2013. He is currently the only fullback on the roster, which indicates that he'll start out of the gate.

Equally as important, the Harvard alum is a solid receiving option out of the backfield. He will provide quarterback Joe Flacco with yet another solid receiving option to go along with Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce.

Cincinnati Bengals

John Grieshop/Getty ImagesMarvin Jones was highly touted coming out of CAL in 2012.

Marvin Jones, Wide Receiver

Jones dealt with injuries as a rookie last season, but was still able to accumulate 18 receptions in 11 games (five starts).

The 2012 fifth-round pick fell a great deal in the draft. With that in mind, it's important to note that he was considered a second-day pick before that fall.

He possesses all the indicators for success. A quick step off the line of scrimmage creates separation at the line in press. Massive 10" hands enable him to go up and get the ball. In addition, a frame of nearly 6'2" gives him a built-in advantage over smaller defensive backs.

Jones now needs to step up and prove that his slide down the draft board in 2012 was nothing more than a mirage. He has the skill set to be a perfect complement to A.J. Green on the outside.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Justin K. Aller/Getty ImagesLinebacker Chris Carter should see an expanded role in 2013.

Chris Carter, Linebacker

Carter was a huge draft crush of mine entering the 2011 NFL draft. He seemed to possess the perfect set of skills to transition to outside linebacker in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense.

He hasn't really lived up to the billing in two NFL seasons.

The former Fresno State star has played in only half of Pittsburgh's games over the past two seasons, starting just three times.

However, there is still time for the athletic freak to break out. The Steelers sent James Harrison packing in the offseason, which leaves a huge void opposite LaMarr Woodley at outside linebacker.

Jason Worilds is slated to start at right outside linebacker, but Pittsburgh needs yet another player to step up in the rotation. It did select Jarvis Jones in the first round of April's draft, but the Georgia alum may need some seasoning before he can make a real impact.

Chicago Bears

Elsa/Getty ImagesRookie linebacker Khaseem Greene should make an immediate impact in 2013.

Khaseem Greene, Linebacker

First, let me preface this slide by saying that Greene will not replace Lance Briggs as Chicago's starting weak-side linebacker this upcoming season.

General manager Phil Emery and Co. brought him in to eventually replace Briggs, but that won't happen during his rookie campaign.

Instead, Greene will be a fixture in Chicago's nickel packages. He has superior coverage skills for such a young player and will be brought in to improve that aspect of the game.

A duo of Greene and Briggs, who ranked third among 4-3 outside linebackers in pass coverage last season, will definitely help out the back end of Chicago's defense (via Pro Football Focus, subscription required).

Imagine him and Briggs being able to handle the hashes in coverage. This leaves Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings the ability to play man on the outside without safety help.

Detroit Lions

If this 2012 second-round pick can actually stay on the field in 2013, he will play a huge role in Detroit's passing game.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has been seeking a perfect complement to Calvin Johnson at wide receiver. The Titus Young experiment failed miserably after just two seasons and Nate Burleson seems to be well past his prime.

This leaves Broyles as the odds-on favorite to land the No. 2 wide receiver gig.

If that happens, the Oklahoma product will impress skeptics.

He already runs above-average routes, can rack up yards after the catch and possesses great hands. In addition, Broyles will get plenty of targets.

After all, quarterback Matthew Stafford has attempted more passes in a two-year span than any quarterback in the history of the league.

There is a strong possibility that a healthy Broyles can put up over 1,000 yards this season.

He was ranked directly above Eddie Lacy, who went two rounds before to the very same Packers.

Lacy has long been considered the best running back in this draft class, but is struggling with hamstring issues that boiled over in the BCS National Championship Game.

Franklin, on the other hand, proved himself to be quite the workhorse at UCLA. He averaged over 20 rush attempts per game as a senior in 2012 and recorded a ridiculous 2,057 yards from scrimmage.

It goes without saying that Green Bay needed to go out there and find a top-tier young running back to provide some balance on offense.

Franklin fits that description to a T.

While he might lose touches to Lacy in the red zone, Franklin will more than likely be the Packers' primary running back as a rookie. Defenses won't be able to stack the box with Aaron Rodgers under center, which will give Franklin a lot of open lanes to run through.

Minnesota Vikings

Hannah Foslien/Getty ImagesJarius Wright looks for expanded role in 2013.

Jarius Wright, Wide Receiver

The additions of wide receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson will lead some to believe that Minnesota just isn't sold on Wright.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

Minnesota needed to go out there and find talent to replace Percy Harvin, whom it traded to Seattle immediately prior to the start of free agency.

These two additions have no impact on Minnesota's opinion on Wright.

Wright put up over 1,100 yards against elite SEC defenses in his final season at Arkansas and can stretch the field on the outside.

He put up 22 receptions for over 300 yards and two scores in just seven games as a rookie last season. Extrapolated over the course of a 16-game schedule, that projects out to over 700 receiving yards.

With another full offseason under his belt, you can fully expect Wright to come into training camp later this summer ready to take on an added role.

Don't be surprised if he flirts with 800 yards and six or seven scores.

Buffalo Bills

Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesMarquise Goodwin's speed could help him make the transition to the NFL.

Marquise Goodwin, Wide Receiver

As the Oakland Raiders have proven over and over again, speed isn't the be-all and end-all in the NFL. Will track speed translate to the football field? Are we looking at another Ted Ginn here?

Those are two questions that scouts asked themselves about Goodwin leading up to the 2013 NFL draft.

I will say that Goodwin proved he can be a reliable pass catcher on the outside. While he leaves a little to be desired in terms of route running, the rookie can be an immediate deep threat for either Kevin Kolb or EJ Manuel in Buffalo.

Miami Dolphins

Miami did go out there and sign Dustin Keller in free agency prior to the draft in April. It then picked up Evan Rodriguez from Chicago in waivers earlier in June.

This doesn't mean that Sims won't be given a chance to prove he deserves playing time as a rookie.

The Michigan State product was one of the best mid-round tight end options in the 2013 NFL draft. At 6'5" and 285, Sims is a massive target for Ryan Tannehill between the hashes. While he lacks great athleticism, the rookie is just as good of a blocker as he is a receiver.

It's becoming pretty evident that general manager Jeff Ireland has started to value the hybrid tight end recently. This only bodes will for Sims' chances in 2013.

Sims wasn't utilized a lot in Michigan State's run-first offense, but he did record 36 receptions for 475 yards in 2012.

Those numbers could be duplicated as a rookie in South Beach this year.

New England Patriots

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesAlfonzo Dennard would have been a first-round pick in 2012 if not for off-field issues.

Alfonzo Dennard, Cornerback

Dennard was well on his way to becoming an early second-day pick in the 2012 NFL draft. He then made a decision that altered his draft stock and cost him millions.

The former Nebraska standout was arrested a mere five days before the draft for assaulting a police office (via Yahoo!). This caused him to drop all the way to the Patriots in the seventh round.

Facing serious legal problems, Dennard was still able to be an immediate impact performer as a rookie. He recorded seven passes defended, three interceptions and a touchdown in just six starts.

Dennard is now slated to be New England's starting right cornerback next to Aqib Talib. This means that quarterbacks will target him early and often. This also means that Dennard will have more chances to force turnovers.

If his success last season is any indication, Dennard will thrive in that role.

Back to his legal issues for a second.

Dennard was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which won't be served until March. This means that he'll be ready to play a full slate of games this upcoming season (via NFL.com).

New York Jets

Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesChris Ivory gets his first real chance to be a starting RB in 2013.

Chris Ivory, Running Back

Most people outside of New Orleans don't realize that Ivory led the Saints in rushing back in 2010. While being forced to share carries with a myriad of running backs, Ivory was still able to rack up over 700 yards on the ground and average over five yards per attempt.

His production has gone downhill since, mostly due to the Saints' unwillingness to actually give him reps.

Ivory still produced at a high level when he was on the field over the past two seasons, but only rushed the ball 119 times during that span.

This won't be an issue with his new club.

The New York Jets are planning to feature Ivory in their running game this upcoming season. Based on previous production and an imminent increase in attempts, there is no reason to believe that the veteran can't put up 1,300 yards and double-digit scores on the ground.

Dallas Cowboys

Rick Yeatts/Getty ImagesTight end Gavin Escobar should make immediate impact as a rookie.

Gavin Escobar, Tight End

Jerry Jones has long sought a secondary tight end option outside of Jason Witten. After a relatively strong start, the Martellus Bennett experiment failed after four seasons. Once Bennett signed with the Giants prior to last season, it became apparent that quarterback Tony Romo had to rely on Witten more than he would have liked.

The end result was a career season for the tight end in terms of receptions, but his touchdown total dropped to three.

Enter into the equation, this rookie second-round pick.

Escobar is a great receiving tight end with very little blocking ability. He recorded 93 receptions for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final two seasons at San Diego State.

The targets are there to be had. If Escobar proves his worth, he could be a pleasant surprise as a rookie in 2013.

Washington Redskins

Nick Wass/Getty ImagesPhillip Thomas should start at safety as a rookie.

Phillip Thomas, Safety

I had a second-round grade on Thomas coming out of Fresno State this past April. He was one of the best all-around cover safeties in the entire class and fills a position of tremendous need with the Redskins.